Set in Clapham Common, London on 10th September 2011, the event will include live music, a variety of food and drink (some alcoholic I’m sure!), and activities for kids. So it’s an event the whole family can enjoy. Performing are acts like The Saturdays, Taio Cruz, and Chipmunk.

Photographs are a powerful way to convey meaning and emotions on any given subject. So the use of inspirational photography to campaign for various disabilities issues is no surprise. Last week saw the Down’s syndrome photography exhibition and launch of the competition My Perspective. Now it’s the turn of Alzheimer’s campaigners.

Alzheimer’s Disease International recently ran a worldwide photography competition for amateur and professional photographers looking for a moving image that conveyed a message under the title ‘Active life with dementia’ (Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia).

Alzheimer's Disease International professional photography competition winner by Andreas Philippides in Cyprus

With a focus on both raising awareness of Alzheimer’s, and demonstrating how life does continues after a diagnosis, images hope to inspire those with the disease to still live an active life.

In connection to the competition, American photographer Judith Fox opens an exhibition in London (Cork Street Gallery, London) entitled ‘I Still Do; Loving and Living with Alzheimer’s’, showing images of her husband, Dr. Edmund Ackell, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over 10 years ago.

The exhibition finishes on the 3rd of April, but if you miss it, you can buy her book which contains a wider selection of images and writings about her and her husband’s experience.

Now you might wonder why I am talking about Alzheimer’s as it’s not an officially registered disability. But on the Inspire blog I want to not only discuss recognised disabilities, but also problems that have disabling effects. Alzheimer’s is one such illnesses with it being one of the largest causes of disability in later life. So whatever yours or a family member or friend’s disability or disabling illness, I hope there is something for everyone on this blog!

If you’re unsure of what to do this weekend, then I have the perfect suggestion. Why not visit the photographic exhibition, Shifting Perspectivesat the Oxo Tower in London (until Sunday 28th March), aimed at changing people’s perception of Down’s syndrome.

I popped along today to take a look and I highly recommend the exhibition as a way to give you a shot of inspiration and put a smile on your face. With a mix of images, annotations and video, I was particularly moved by the wider themes being explored; Down’s syndrome and breastfeeding, and human rights.

Attempting to break the taboo surrounding breastfeeding a baby with Down’s syndrome, which steams largely from the belief that they are unable to do so, a selection of mothers have posed for intimate portraits of themselves feeding their Down’s syndrome child.

To highlight the importance of human rights, photographs of 12 individuals with Down’s syndrome holding something that symbolises human rights to them, are accompanied by inspiring and touching writings explaining the items; a book symbolising the right to education, a taxi pass for the right to freedom and independence, a staff badge representing the ability to work, an image of an ear for the right to be listened to and valued in the community.

If you’re not able to make it this weekend, check out the Local Heart. Global Soul blog with photographs of a similar exhibition. The images are amazing, capturing the innocence and beauty of children with Down’s syndrome.